Expansion valve having a sealing ring holder for simplified assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a valve, in particular an expansion valve, for controlling a fluid flow, having a valve housing with an accommodation space and at least two fluid ducts connected to the accommodation space, having an opening which runs perpendicularly to the fluid ducts and opens into the accommodation space, wherein a sealing ring holder with a valve means is situated in the accommodation space, wherein the sealing ring holder with the valve means held therein can be inserted into the accommodation space through the opening, and wherein the valve means is positioned rotatably in the sealing ring holder by means of at least two sealing rings. The invention also relates to a sealing ring holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a valve, in particular an expansion valve, forcontrolling a fluid flow, having a valve housing and a valve means. Theinvention further relates to a sealing ring holder for such a valve.

Valves are used in different technical fields. For example, expansionvalves which expand a coolant and thus are able to generate cooling areused in air conditioning units. Similarly, valves are required forcompressing the coolant.

In particular, in the automobile field a plurality of different valvesare required for the construction of the air conditioning unit. Inelectrically driven vehicles, the coolant of the air conditioning unitmay be used for cooling further components, such as for example thepower electronics, the traction battery and the electric motors.

In the case of an increasing number of components to be cooled, thenumber of valves required rises in order to permit a use of the coolantwhich is as energy-efficient and targeted as possible. As a result, manydifferent valves are required, such as for example compression valvesand expansion valves, whereby the number of different components andthus also the production costs of such a cooling system rise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention may be seen as proposing a valve which maybe produced in an inexpensive manner and which may be universally used.

This object is achieved by means of the respective subject of theindependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention form thesubject of the dependent subclaims in each case.

According to one aspect of the invention, a valve, in particular anexpansion valve, is provided for controlling a fluid flow. The valve hasa valve housing, with an accommodation space and at least two fluidducts connected to the accommodation space. Moreover, the valve housinghas an opening which preferably runs perpendicularly to the fluid ductsand opens into the accommodation space. Alternatively, the opening mayalso run transversely or parallel or slightly obliquely to at least onefluid duct, in particular to the fluid ducts.

According to the invention, a sealing ring holder with a valve means issituated in the accommodation space, wherein the sealing ring holderwith the valve means held therein can be inserted into the accommodationspace through the opening. The valve means is preferably positionedrotatably in the sealing ring holder by means of at least two sealingrings.

The sealing rings serve as a fluid seal of the valve means and at thesame time permit the valve means to slide or rotate along the sealingrings. To this end, the sealing rings may consist of an elastomer,Teflon, graphite or a plastics with a sealing action. Preferably in astate inserted in the accommodation space, a pressure may be exerted onthe valve means via the sealing rings in order to increase a sealingaction.

The valve means may preferably be of spherical design, wherein the valvemeans has a spherical shape at least in some regions. The mode ofoperation of the valve may thus be similar to a ball valve.

The valve may be designed, for example, as an expansion valve. Inparticular, the valve may serve for conducting, blocking or expanding afluid designed as coolant. The fluid may be embodied, for example, as anammonia, a carbon dioxide, an aqueous solution, a hydrocarbon compound,such as R-134a, R1234yf, propane, butane and the like. Preferably, thevalve may be used both as an expansion valve and as a compression valve.

An assembly of the valve and the connection of the valve means to ashaft are possible via a common opening. As a result, an additionalassembly opening is not required for the assembly of the valve means inthe valve housing, whereby the valve housing may be configured to bemechanically more robust and the production may be accelerated.Moreover, the production of the valve is simplified in terms oftechnology, whereby the valve may be designed to be more cost-efficient.In particular, by means of such an assembly of the valve means, acomplex joining process for the correctly oriented introduction of thevalve means into the accommodation space of the valve housing may besaved. In this case, additional fastening steps for introducing screws,which merely locate the valve means in the housing, are also dispensedwith.

Preferably, the sealing rings are inserted in through-openings of thesealing ring holder which face the fluid ducts. In particular, thesealing rings may receive additional O-rings and position said O-ringssuch that the O-rings are blocked between the sealing ring holder andthe walls of the accommodation space. By means of this arrangement, thevalve means is sealed relative to a fluid via the sealing rings. TheO-rings act sealingly in an axial manner or in the direction of flow ofthe fluid through the fluid ducts and thus may seal the sealing ringsrelative to the walls of the accommodation space. By this arrangement itis also possible to avoid the situation where the O-rings spring out,even in the case of high pressure differences.

The valve may be produced or assembled in a particularly simple mannerin terms of technology. To this end, the valve means is inserted intothe sealing ring holder. Subsequently, lateral through-openings of thesealing ring holder are provided with sealing rings and O-rings.Preferably, the sealing ring holder is able to block the sealing ringsand the O-rings, such that these sealing rings and O-rings may not beinadvertently released. Subsequently, the sealing ring holder may beinserted with the valve means, the sealing rings and the O-rings throughthe opening into the accommodation space of the valve housing.

In a final step, a shaft guide as a cover may close the opening andconnect the valve means to a shaft. The shaft may serve for moving, inparticular for rotating, the valve means in order to connect the fluidducts together in a fluid-conducting manner or to decouple the fluidducts from one another.

The shaft may be rotated manually or by an electric motor or anactuator. For example, an actuator may be used with a gear mechanism forthe accurate adjustment of an angle of rotation of the valve means. Anautomated valve control and valve regulation may be implemented by meansof an actuator.

According to an exemplary embodiment, in each case an O-ring is arrangedon the at least two sealing rings and is held in position by the sealingring holder. In particular, a sealing ring may define an O-ring radiallyinternally and axially. In a state inserted into a through-opening ofthe sealing ring holder, an annular receiving groove may be formedthereby between a wall of the through-opening and the sealing ring forreceiving an O-ring. The respective sealing ring may be sealed relativeto the valve housing by the use of an O-ring. In particular, by means ofsuch an arrangement each O-ring is able to seal against fluids in anaxially acting manner.

Preferably, the O-ring may consist of a resilient material, such as forexample an elastomer, a silicone or a rubber. Due to the resilientmaterial properties of the O-ring, the O-ring may exert a spring forcevia the sealing ring onto the valve means and thus improve a sealingaction of the sealing ring on the valve means. This may be implemented,in particular, by the positioning of the sealing ring holder in theaccommodation space of the valve housing.

A particularly optimal sealing action may be achieved between thesealing rings and the valve means by two sealing rings and O-ringsarranged on opposing sides of the valve means.

According to a further embodiment, the sealing ring holder is designedin one part or in two parts. In the case of a two-part sealing ringholder, the valve means may be arranged in a particularly simple mannerin the sealing ring holder. In the case of a one-part sealing ringholder, the valve means may be inserted into an internal receivingregion, for example via an opening. In this case, as an aid, the sealingring holder may be thermally increased in size by heating and the valvemeans may be reduced in size by cooling.

Alternatively, the sealing ring holder may be designed to be resilientin some regions, whereby the valve means may be inserted into aninternal receiving region of the sealing ring holder by a smallapplication of force.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, parts of the sealing ringholder, which is designed in two parts, are connected by a plugconnection, an adhesive connection, a welded connection or by a positiveinteraction of the parts with walls of the accommodation space forpositioning the valve means. In particular, after introducing the valvemeans into the internal receiving region the parts of the sealing ringholder may be connected together thereby, resulting in the valve meansbeing able to remain fixedly in the sealing ring holder.

In a particularly simple embodiment in terms of technology, theaccommodation space in the valve housing may have a shape correspondingto the sealing ring holder. As a result, the two parts of the sealingring holder may be arranged with the positioned valve means in theaccommodation space such that a combined sealing ring holder is formed.In particular, the sealing ring holder is able to remain in an assembledstate by means of the walls of the accommodation space.

According to a further embodiment, the sealing ring holder has acuboidal shape and is designed as a receiving cage for the valve means.Preferably, the accommodation space of the valve housing is alsodesigned to be cuboidal. As a result, the sealing ring holder may beinserted positively into the accommodation space, wherein a securingagainst a subsequent twisting or an incorrect assembly of the valve isensured by the cuboidal shape.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sealing ring holderconsists of a plastics or a metal and is preferably able to be producedby an injection-molding method, a 3D-printing method or a castingmethod. The valve housing in this case may consist of a plastics or ametal, such as for example aluminum or an aluminum alloy. As a result,the sealing ring holder may be produced in a flexible manner by aplurality of production methods. A sealing ring holder produced by aninjection-molding method, for example, may be produced in a manner whichis particularly simple in terms of technology and which iscost-efficient.

According to a further embodiment, the sealing ring holder has at leasttwo through-openings for connecting to the fluid ducts, wherein in eachcase a sealing ring and an O-ring are able to be inserted into thethrough-openings. The through-openings are preferably configured suchthat these through-openings face in the direction of the fluid ductswhich open into the accommodation space of the valve housing. Inparticular, the fluid ducts may open into the through-openings. In thiscase, the O-rings may seal the sealing rings and also the fluid ductsrelative to the accommodation space of the valve housing.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sealing ring and theO-ring are able to be inserted by a positive connection, a frictionalconnection or a non-positive connection into the through-openings of thesealing ring holder. By this measure the sealing ring holder may beassembled with the inserted valve means, the sealing rings and theO-rings as a combined component, wherein this combined component may beinserted through the opening into the accommodation space of the valvehousing in one production step. By means of this production step all ofthe sealing effects between the walls of the accommodation space and theO-rings, as well as between the sealing rings and the valve means, areformed at the same time. The valve may be completed by subsequentlyclosing the opening.

According to a further embodiment, the valve means is able to beconnected in an anti-rotational manner via a shaft receiver to a shaftvia the opening of the valve housing. To this end, the shaft receivermay have a shape or a recess or bulge which may be connected by apositive connection to a shaft portion on the end side. By means of sucha connection the shaft may reliably rotate the valve means and thuscontrol and regulate a fluid flow between the fluid ducts. The shaft maypreferably be driven by an electric motor or an actuator for adjusting arotational position of the valve means.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the valve means has aflattened portion on a side opposing the shaft receiver. Preferably, theflattened portion of the valve means may be oriented toward a bottom ofthe accommodation space. The bottom of the accommodation space islocated on a side of the accommodation space opposing the opening and isshaped in a substantially planar manner. As a result, the valve meansmay bear against the bottom, whereby an inadvertent tilting or twistingof the valve means in the accommodation space is prevented. By thismeasure a correct orientation of the shaft receiver relative to theopening of the valve housing may be ensured.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a sealing ring holder isprovided for receiving a valve means. The sealing ring holder isdesigned for use in a valve according to the invention.

Preferably, the sealing ring holder is designed in a box-shaped orgrid-shaped manner, whereby a receiving region is formed on the inside,the valve means being able to be pressed or inserted therein. Thesealing ring holder may preferably receive and position sealing ringsand O-rings relative to the valve means, whereby the sealing ring holderis configured as a universal receiving unit and positioning unit. By theuse of such a sealing ring holder, the production of a valve may becarried out in a particularly rapid and cost-efficient manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in moredetail hereinafter with reference to highly simplified schematic views.In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a valve according to oneembodiment,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a valve housing of FIG. 1 ,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an opening of the valve of FIG. 1 and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sealing ring holder according toone embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a sectional view through a valve 1 according to one embodimentis shown. The valve 1 is designed as an expansion valve and has a valvehousing 2 which consists of an aluminum alloy.

An opening 4 which opens into a substantially cuboidal accommodationspace 6 is incorporated in the valve housing 2. Moreover, two fluidducts 8, 9 are configured in the valve housing 2. The fluid ducts 8, 9are cylindrically shaped and open into the accommodation space 6. Thefluid ducts 8, 9 extend by way of example perpendicularly to the opening4. The fluid ducts 8, 9 are arranged such that a fluid flow F isconducted from a first fluid duct 8 via the accommodation space 6 into asecond fluid duct 9.

According to a development of the invention, at least one of the fluidducts 8, 9 may also extend transversely or parallel or slightlyobliquely to the opening 4. In particular, at least one of the fluidducts may extend at a flat or acute angle to the opening 4. Preferably,an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees, preferably of between 80 and 100degrees, for example between 85 and 95 degrees, is formed between thefluid ducts and the opening 4.

A sealing ring holder 10 is arranged in the accommodation space 6. Thesealing ring holder 10 has a shape which corresponds to a shape of theaccommodation space 6.

A valve means 14 is positioned in an internal receiving region 12 of thesealing ring holder 10. The sealing ring holder 10 in this case consistsof two parts 16, 17 which encompass the valve means 14.

The valve means 14 is of substantially spherical design and has a shaftreceiver 18 in the region of the opening 4 and a flattened portion 20 ona side opposing the opening 4. By means of the flattened portion 20 thevalve means 14 may bear against a bottom 7 of the accommodation space 6and may be secured against tilting or twisting. Alternatively, thisfunction may be undertaken by two sealing rings 22.

The valve means 14 has a connecting channel 13. The connecting channel13 may be used to connect the fluid ducts 8, 9 together in afluid-conducting manner. Preferably, the connecting channel 13 extendsperpendicularly to an opening direction of the opening 4 through thevalve means 14.

According to a development, the connecting channel 13 has a transverseextension relative to an opening direction of the opening 4 through thevalve means 14. In particular, the angle between the opening directionand the longitudinal extension of the connecting channel is configuredto be between 45 and 135 degrees, preferably between 80 and 100 degrees.

The fluid ducts 8, 9 run through the sealing rings 22 and through thevalve housing 2 and open directly onto the valve means 14.

The sealing rings 22 are introduced into through-openings 11 of thesealing ring holder 10 and form with the through-openings 11 receivinggrooves 24 for O-rings 26.

In a state arranged in the accommodation space 6, the O-rings 26 arepressed by the valve means 14 and the sealing rings 22 against walls 28of the accommodation space 6. As a result, it is possible to configure aseal which acts axially in the direction of the fluid flow F.

The valve means 14, the sealing rings 22 and the O-rings 26 are heldtogether by the sealing ring holder 10 and thus may be pushed in onestep through the opening 4 into the accommodation space 6 of the valvehousing 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates in a sectional view the construction of the valvehousing 2 for a valve of FIG. 1 . In this case, in particular, theaccommodation space 6 is illustrated with a rectangular cross section orwith a rectangular bottom surface. The opening 4 of the valve housing 2has dimensions which correspond to the dimensions of the accommodationspace 6 and thus also of the sealing ring holder 10, or which exceedthese dimensions.

The accommodation space 6 is laterally defined by walls 28. These walls28 serve at the same time as sealing surfaces for the O-rings 26.

In FIG. 3 a perspective view of an opening 4 of the valve 1 of FIG. 1 isshown. The cuboidal sealing ring holder 10 which is arranged in theaccommodation space 6 is illustrated. The sealing ring holder 10 isinserted positively in the accommodation space 6. The valve means 14 ispositioned in the receiving region 12 on the inside of the sealing ringholder 10. The valve means 14 may be rotated through the opening 4 ofthe valve housing 2 on the shaft receiver 18 along the rotational axis Din order to achieve a control of the fluid flow F.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the sealing ring holder 10 accordingto one embodiment. The sealing ring holder 10 is designed in two partsand consists of two equal-sized parts 16, 17 which together encompass areceiving region 12.

Each part 16, 17 has a through-opening 11 into which a sealing ring 22and an O-ring 26 may be inserted. The through-openings 11 thus permit asealed transition between the fluid ducts 8, 9 and the connectingchannel 13 of the valve means 14.

The parts 16, 17 of the sealing ring holder 10 may be produced by aninjection-molding method and have reinforcing ribs 30 in order toincrease a mechanical stability.

“Slightly obliquely” is to be understood to mean that an angle of, inparticular, up to 20 degrees, preferably up to 5 degrees, for example upto 3 degrees, is formed. Preferably, the angle is the deviation relativeto a perpendicular configuration. In particular, the angle with aslightly oblique configuration between at least one fluid duct 8, 9 andthe opening 4 is, in particular, between 70 and 110 degrees, preferablybetween 85 and 95 degrees, for example between 87 and 93 degrees.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve (1) for controlling a fluid flow (F), thevalve (1) having a valve housing (2) with an accommodation space (6) andat least two fluid ducts (8, 9) connected to the accommodation space(6), the valve housing (2) having an opening (4) which opens into theaccommodation space (6), wherein a sealing ring holder (10) with a valvemeans (14) is situated in the accommodation space (6), wherein thesealing ring holder (10) with the valve means (14) held therein isconfigured to be inserted into the accommodation space (6) through theopening (4), and wherein the valve means (14) is positioned rotatably inthe sealing ring holder (10) by at least a first and a second sealingring (22), wherein the sealing ring holder (10) includes a first part(16) and a second part (17) positioned on opposite sides of the valvemeans (14), wherein the first part (16) retains the first sealing ring(22) positioned between the valve means (14) and the valve housing (2),the first sealing ring (22) receiving a first O-ring (26) between thefirst sealing ring (22), the valve housing (2), and the first part (16),and wherein the second part (17) retains the second sealing ring (22)positioned between the valve means (14) and the valve housing (2), thesecond sealing ring (22) receiving a second O-ring (26) between thesecond sealing ring (22), the valve housing (2), and the second part(17).
 2. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and secondparts (16, 17) are connected by an adhesive connection, a weldedconnection, or by a positive interaction of the two parts with walls(28) of the accommodation space (6) for positioning the valve means(14).
 3. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing ringholder (10) has a cuboidal shape and is configured as a receiving cagefor the valve means (14).
 4. The valve as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe sealing ring holder (10) includes a plastic or a metal and isconfigured to be produced by an injection-molding method, a 3D-printingmethod or a casting method.
 5. The valve as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe sealing ring holder (10) has at least two through-openings (11) forconnecting to the fluid ducts (8, 9), wherein the first and secondsealing rings (22) and the first and second O-rings (26) are configuredto be inserted into the through-openings (11).
 6. The valve as claimedin claim 5, wherein the first and second sealing rings (22) and thefirst and second O-rings (26) are configured to be inserted by apositive connection or a frictional connection into the through-openings(11) of the sealing ring holder (10).
 7. The valve as claimed in claim1, wherein the valve means (14) is configured to be connected in ananti-rotational manner via a shaft receiver (18) to a shaft via theopening (4) of the valve housing (2).
 8. The valve as claimed in claim7, wherein the valve means (14) has a flattened portion (20) on a sideopposing the shaft receiver (18).
 9. The valve as claimed in claim 1,wherein the valve (1) is an expansion valve.
 10. The valve as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the opening (4) runs perpendicularly to the fluid ducts(8, 9).
 11. A sealing ring holder (10) for receiving a valve means (14),wherein the sealing ring holder (10) is configured for use in a valve(1) for controlling a fluid flow (F), the valve (1) having a valvehousing (2) with an accommodation space (6) and at least two fluid ducts(8, 9) connected to the accommodation space (6), the valve housing (2)having an opening (4) which opens into the accommodation space (6),wherein the sealing ring holder (10) with the valve means (14) isconfigured to be situated in the accommodation space (6), wherein thesealing ring holder (10) with the valve means (14) held therein isconfigured to be inserted into the accommodation space (6) through theopening (4), and wherein sealing ring holder (10) is configured to havethe valve means (14) positioned rotatably in the sealing ring holder(10) by at least a first and a second sealing ring (22), wherein thesealing ring holder (10) includes a first part (16) and a second part(17) positioned on opposite sides of the valve means (14), wherein thefirst part (16) retains the first sealing ring (22) positioned betweenthe valve means (14) and the valve housing (2), the first sealing ring(22) receiving a first O-ring (26) between the first sealing ring (22),the valve housing (2), and the first part (16), and wherein the secondpart (17) retains the second sealing ring (22) positioned between thevalve means (14) and the valve housing (2), the second sealing ring (22)receiving a second O-ring (26) between the second sealing ring (22), thevalve housing (2), and the second part (17).
 12. The sealing ring holderas claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second parts (16, 17) areconnected by an adhesive connection, a welded connection, or by apositive interaction of the two parts with walls (28) of theaccommodation space (6) for positioning the valve means (14).
 13. Thesealing ring holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sealing ringholder (10) has a cuboidal shape and is configured as a receiving cagefor the valve means (14).
 14. The sealing ring holder as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) includes a plastic or ametal and is configured to be produced by an injection-molding method, a3D-printing method or a casting method.
 15. The sealing ring holder asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) has at leasttwo through-openings (11) for connecting to the fluid ducts (8, 9),wherein the first and second sealing rings (22) and the first and secondO-rings (26) are configured to be inserted into the through-openings(11).
 16. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 15, wherein thefirst and second sealing rings (22) and the first and second O-rings(26) are configured to be inserted by a positive connection or africtional connection into the through-openings (11) of the sealing ringholder (10).